The Five Year Plan

On average, the Ph.D. program takes five years to complete. A typical timeline:

YEAR ONE

Orientation . A weeklong program in mid-August during which you’ll get to know your fellow students and faculty and explore the campus, the neighborhood, and New York City.

Coursework. Two courses per semester from the program’s multidisciplinary curriculum: a combination of courses that provide a solid foundation in areas of scholarship critical to contemporary biomedical research, including cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry.

Laboratory rotations. First-year graduate students rotate in any three of the more than 200 research laboratories at Einstein. At the end of the second semester, you will choose a faculty mentor in whose laboratory you will conduct your thesis work.

YEAR TWO

Coursework. Complete courses by choosing from a variety of advanced specialized courses available to match your developing interests.

Thesis research. Begin work on your thesis in the laboratory of your mentor.

Qualifying examination. In the spring you will take the qualifying exam workshops in preparation for the qualifying exam, write a research proposal based on your thesis work, and take the oral qualifying exam.

YEARS THREE TO FIVE

Coursework. Complete any remaining coursework relevant to your research interests.

Thesis research. Focus on your individual research in your thesis lab. As your work evolves, you are encouraged to seek collaborations with investigators in other laboratories to develop a truly multidisciplinary body of work.